matching tracksuits

Final Game

Thursday 21 June 2018

The Girl had her last volleyball game this evening. She's come a long way since she began some weeks ago. She couldn't even pass a volleyball; in games, she was somewhat intimidated by the ball. Her serve was non-existent. She was, in short, a complete beginner.

By the end of the season, she's got a decent underhand serve and is working on an overhand serve. She's starting to chase down balls rather than shy away from them. And she's still in love with the game, so next week, it's volleyball camp.

Cleaning Up

Wednesday 20 June 2018

Summer Saturday

Saturday 16 June 2018

The day started with a frenzy of activity for the Boy and me. First, there was soccer clinic, which is an addition to the spring soccer season that he just finished. The coach suggested that E has a certain awareness of what's going on during a game that might benefit from additional practice and coaching. For the Boy's part, he always explained it thus: "I just run around the outside until I see my moment, then I go!"

Taken and edited in-phone, hence the lack of quality

Afterward, we headed to our favorite local park for a summer scouting event. A bit of kickball kicked everything off and showed me that the Boy has little to no understanding of kickball/baseball. He didn't know when to run to the next base when he was on (every kid got to kick every inning, no matter the outs), and he had no idea what to do while in the field.

How did I learn baseball? I don't know that, at age six, I would have done much better. So many sports just seem absorbed with one's culture.

After lunch, we went on a short hike, and this was where the Boy was in his element. We've hiked and ridden all the trails at Conestee Park seemingly countless times.

The Boy explained this, the Boy explained that. He told about walking Clover here. He explained which portions were particularly challenging on a bike.

When we got home, it was time for a rest. A summer thunderstorm landed on us, and we all marveled at the amount of water that can fall in such a short time -- so much that our overflow for our rain barrel become completely overwhelmed.

After dinner? A return to Conestee with the Boy for a bike ride.

First Ride

Wednesday 13 June 2018

Every time E and I go on a bike ride, he’s always asking the same question: “When can we go on a family bike ride?”

Today, we got our chance. We took the girls on the same ride we completed yesterday, with E in the lead again.

“Okay, girls, here’s a really tricky part coming up,” he would announce from time to time.

We did 10.31 km in just over an hour, with an average speed of approximately 8.7 kph.

There were times when L showed a resilience that impressed me. We did a fair amount of trail riding, including a couple of relatively steep climbs. The Boy had to get off and push; once, K did so, too; the Girl soldiered on with me.

Pressure

Wednesday 13 June 2018

You just can't do any work without the Boy wanting to get involved.

It's ridiculous the amount of gunk that was in the concrete seams.

Mama

Tuesday 12 June 2018

The raccoon family that lives in the hole in the sweetgum tree at the corner of our neighbor's yard has had this year's brood.

Every now and then mama comes out to check on what's going on in the neighborhood.

VBS 1

Monday 11 June 2018

Years and years ago, I spent a few weeks of summers in the north of Poland, in the lake district, working at a camp for young Poles looking to improve their language ability. After a year of teaching, spending several weeks teaching some more wasn't something I was looking forward to, but the money was decent, and I was there with friends, old and new.

The days started with lessons and ended with sports. I did a session on blues -- native Polish teachers of English found it interesting, but the kids, who were into techno, not so much. That's about all I remember of it, other than the routine of it. Up for breakfast, a couple of sessions, then off to sports after lunch.

Still, there was something pleasant about those mornings. Knowing that I wasn't teaching toward some test or other, knowing that fun was the operative word (even if I didn't provide it consistently for my young charges), I enjoyed working in a new place with new kids.

Today was the first day of Vacation Bible School. I agreed to serve as photographer for the camp, so instead of dropping the kids off and heading off to accomplish something or other, I went about snapping pictures.

Over 300 pictures, and only one I can post here...